The Portland daily press., 1887-10-29
TROUBLE FOR THE COMMISSION.
Enough Canadian Evidence to FIN
Those ThIrty-Seven Rooms.
Differences Which May Arise at the
Commissioners First Meeting.
Dominion Demands for Money or an
Open Market.
rsneeial to the Pres..l

HALIFAX, Oct. 2S.-It is reported here to-
night that the Dominion government has di-
yided Nova Scotia into nine fishing districts.
and has appointed nine officials to collect
statistics of the fisheries this season. These
officials are instructed to visit each fishing
establishment and personally Obtain from
the owners of fishing vessels and from pack
ers and exporters Of fish, statistics of the
Canadian fisheries. They will also show the
Importance, extent and value of the linshore
mackerel fisheries, and the traffic conducted
previous to the expiration of the Washing
ton treaty. with the Americans in the sale of
bait. In the matter of provisions and other
supplies special attention will be paid to the
collection of statistics Of American cargoes
of fish transhipped at Port Mulgraye and
Shediac and shipped in bond by rail and
steamer to American ports.
The Canadian case will rest largely, if not
completely, upon the showing made in the
statistics thus compiled. 1t is known here
that for year past certain Ottawa officials
of the fishing and customs departments have
been engaged in compiling special reports
covering the value of the privileges enjoyed
by Americans in Canadian waters, during
the Washington treaty. over and above the
half million year awarded by the Halifax
Commission. Thus.w the the records used
before the Halifax Commission, the statis-
tics then prepared, but not used, the reports
compiled during the past year. and the sta
tistics to be gathered by the officials just
appointed, the British Commission
ers will have what the officials here regard
as complete and unanswerable argument.
Your correspondent is informed on excel
lent authority that serious difficulty will
arise at the first meeting of the commission
ers. While the Americans will, it is under
stood, regard it as conference to define the
treaty and subsequent trade concessions, the
British Commissioners will repudiate any
such idea. They will insist that the commits
sion was appointed as the direct result of
President Cleveland's recommendation to
Congress, in consideration OF which Canada
extended the whole Of the great privileges
of the Washington treaty for six months.
They will insist that the commissioners have
no authority whatever, to define the treaty.
Canada has, from the first, taken
positive ground in its definition of that
instrument, and this position having been
endorsed and sustained by Great Britain
neither country can back down. Great Brit
ain having sustained Canada's action in its
construction of the treaty, must continue to
do so. The British commissioners will pro-
duce mass of statistics showing the value
of the privileges enjoyed by American fisher
men in Canadian waters and the question to
be solved is, what will the United States
give in exchange for these privileges, in mon
ey or trade considerations. Canada will pre-
fer the latter. The question will then re-
solve itself into one of the extent of those
concessions. Canada wants free Ameri-
can market for its fish and free exchange of
natural products If the American commits
sioners persist in adhering to Secretary Bay
ards idea and refuse to go beyond defni-
tion of the treaty and subsequent CONNER
cial arrangements, then 1t Is stated that the
British commissioners will positively refuse
to enter upon any negotiations whatsoever
until the United States Senate meets and de-
fines the scope of the American commission
er.
John continue to denounce Chamberlain's
recent speeches on the Irish and Canadian
trade questions, and to doubt his fitness for
commissioner, while the government papers
have not single good word to say for him.
The ST. John Telegraph says that Chamber
lain has not only embittered the Irish Amer
leans and Irish Canadians, but he also has
antagonized the Canadian people themselves.
The Telegraph says it is now impossible to
repair the damage done by Chamberlain to
the prospects of an early and amicabla set
tlement sof the troubles with the United
States.
One Thing They Don't Claim.
OTTAWA, Oct. 2S.-The report that the
Canadian government has decided at the
coming fishery convention to review the sur
render of 47,oco square miles of Canadian
territory now forming spart of Maine, is
declared untrue on the authority of cabi-
net minister Hon. Mr.. Bowel, minister of
customs, said the Ashburton treaty was
agreed to be observed in perpetuity, despite
of tho haruain